Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Villa in Italy cover art

Villa in Italy

By: Elizabeth Edmondson
Narrated by: Nicolette McKenzie
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Marvellously atmospheric tale of strangers summoned to a grand but neglected villa on the Italian coast. Each of them has been named in a will, but nobody knows their benefactress....

Four very different people are named in a will. Delia, an opera singer robbed of her voice by illness; George, an idealistic scientist who cannot face what his skills have created; Marjorie, desperately poor and unable to dislodge her writer’s block; and Lucius, ostensibly in control but whose personal life is in chaos. All are summoned to the Villa Dante, home of the late Beatrice Malaspina. But who was she?

While they wait to find out, the villa begins to work its seductive magic. With its faded frescoes, overgrown garden, and magnificent mediaeval tower, it is unlike anywhere they have been before.

Slowly four characters who have gone to great lengths to hide their troubles find that change - and even hope - is possible after all. But the mysterious Beatrice has a devastating secret to reveal that will affect them all....

A beautiful evocation of Italy in the aftermath of World War Two and the personal consequences of living through such a time and a celebration of humankind’s ability to heal and learn to love again, this most absorbing novel will win Elizabeth Edmondson a host of new fans.

©2006 Elizabeth Edmondson (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about Villa in Italy

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    267
  • 4 Stars
    131
  • 3 Stars
    41
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    9
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    264
  • 4 Stars
    101
  • 3 Stars
    35
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    235
  • 4 Stars
    118
  • 3 Stars
    35
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

S&B

Great story, well read, loved the tangled plot and interweaving of the characters. Love this author, sad there will be no more of her work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely cosy story

This is a lovely cosy and romantic story that I throughly enjoyed. Perfect for a long car ride.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyable.

A very sweet story, a glimpse back to post WWII society and the English sense of decorum and behavioural norms. A light and delightful book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

What a Great Journey!

I loved this story. it took me on a journey to Italy and ti the villa. I felt like I was there as a participant like Jessica. I loved the Character Arcs and the way they were written... like a "who done it" with clues as to how each one fitted into the story. The Author has a new fan here and so does the Narrator. What a fantastic Narration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A lovely old fashioned mystery

While it seemed to get off to a slow start, the story gradually drew me in. I enjoyed the characters and the gradual emergence of the solution to the mystery

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting

Although hard to follow at times , it was a great story full of twists and turns.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic story

Well read and an intriguing plot . Well worth the listen and the time to let your imagination flow , I loved it .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well worth a listen.

Often when I try a new genre of audiobook I am disappointed but this book captivated me from the start.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A very English parlour mystery tale.

I could picture this as a play on west end. very british period (1950s) piece. Once you get past that it is an interesting story. Many threads of the story intertwine and gradually reveal themselves until all resolved in the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Twists and Turns

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. All characters wonderfully woven together. Very well narrated. Looking forward to listening to more of Elizabeth’s work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.